Saturday 15th December 2018

Biting SSE wind strengthening to force 7 - 8 in the afternoon. 1,436 Cormorant went out fishing early on. Offshore still quiet with 2.5 hrs seawatching producing southbound 28 Common Scoter, 18 Common Gull, 8 Brent, 3 Kittiwake & Eider with northbound 3 Brent & 2 Common Scoter. Despite the biting wind a couple of Goldcrest & a Chiffchaff noted in the observatory compound.

Friday 14th December 2018

No Coverage.

Thursday 13th December 2018

Biting South-easterly wind - but then again it is December so it should be cold ! Offshore hard work although southbound 58 Brent, 12 Shelduck, 3 Teal, 2 Wigeon, Common Gull, Common Scoter & Red-throated Diver with northbound 2 Red-throats & Kittiwake plus 2 Bonxie loitering and an immature drake Eider feeding just offshore.

Wednesday 12th December 2018

3,205 Cormorant went out fishing early on. A Great-northern Diver headed over Harwich and up into the river Stour as the Cormorants were coming out. Offshore southbound 8 Red-throated Diver, 7 Shelduck, 5 Brent, 3 Common Gull & 2 Goosander with northbound 29 Red-throats & 2 Shelduck plus a Bonxie loitering late morning. A walk around the reserve was extremely predictable producing next to nothing.

Tuesday 11th December 2018

Flat calm morning is a bit of a rarity at this time of the year. 2,350 Cormorants went out fishing early on. On site 2 Stonechat, 2 Goldcrest, Rock Pipit & Chiffchaff.

Monday 10th December 2018

1,495 Cormorant went out fishing early on. Signs of cooler wintry conditions elsewhere brought us single Fieldfare & Lapwing plus a Grey Wagtail heading south. The highlight of a walk around the reserve was 5 Mipit, 3 Linnet & Sparrowhawk so that just about sums it up. No seawatching attempted due to bright early morning sunshine.

Ringing: 1 Fieldfare.

Sunday 9th December 2018

Offshore southbound 28 Black-headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, 5 Shelduck, 4 Red-throated Diver, 3 Kitts, Brent Goose, Eider, Great-crested Grebe & Great-northern Diver with northbound 4 Red-throated Diver, 3 Common Scoter & 2 Brent plus 3 Bonxie loitering. 430 Cormorant went out fishing in the half-light early on. Single Linnet & Skylark flew south. Species on site as expected including both Peregrine & Sparrowhawk.